43rd District Senate candidates Michael Russo (Democrat) and Roy McDonald (Republican) may be appearing today at an event in Troy, according to the Hunger Action network, which put out a news release.

The release said:

"The Faith and Hunger Network, Empire State Economic Security Campaign and the Hunger Action Network are sponsoring a forum with state legislative candidates on World Food Day, Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Troy YWCA, 21 First St., from noon to 1:30 p.m.

"The forum is an opportunity to exchange ideas between state legislative candidates and local residents about how the state could better assist New Yorkers in moving from poverty to prosperity. ... Senate candidate Mike Russo [has] confirmed; Senate candidate (and
Assemblyman) Roy McDonald's office says he 'has it on his schedule' and plans to at least stop in.

"Presenters will include Kevin O'Connell of Joseph's House, Robb Smith of Interfaith Impact, Ron Deutsch of New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, Mark Dunlea of Hunger Action Network and Bonnie Benson of the Troy YWCA.

"Poverty, homelessness and hunger are significant problems in our state. More than two million New Yorkers utilize emergency food programs. New York has the greatest income inequality between the poor and rich in the country.

"As former New York Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, 'The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.'"